Button-stick and cleaning-shield.



No. 641,677. Patented 1an. 23, |900.

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BUTTDN ST'ICK A ND CLEANING SHIELD. (Application led Nov. 15, 1899.)

. (No Model.)

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-ATENT Erica.

THOMAS O. CURTISS, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BUTTON-STICK AND CLEANING-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,677', dated January 23, 1900.

Appiiootioo nea November 15, 1399. serial No. 737,036. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, THOMAS O. CURTISS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, borough of Richmond, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Sticks and Cleaning- Shields, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient device adapted to hold buttons in such manner that while they are attached to a garment their edges as well as their exposed faces can be readily cleaned and wherein the device will protect the garment from the cleaning material; and a further object of the invention is to enable the device to be folded into a comparatively small cornpass.

In carrying out my invention I provide a button-stick and cleaning-shield comprising two parts or plates having a slot between them to receive the Shanks of buttons, which parts or plates are connected together in such manner as to fold or bend toward each other, whereby when a button is placed in said slot the plates can be folded or movedout of a right line, so as to expose the edges of the button in position to enable the same to be cleaned.

.The invention also consists in the novel details of improvement, that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein- Figure l is a face View of my improved bntton-stick and. cleaning-shield in the open position. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on the plane of the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, showing the position of the device when in use. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the device, showing the two main parts or plates pivoted or hinged together differently from that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a buttonstick and cleaning-shield in which the two main parts or plates can swing laterally of each other. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the plane of the line 5 5 in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a detail View of the plates and a connection between them, hereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, 1 2 indicate plates, strips, or the like placed in such position that they may lie in line when opened out, and near one end of their adjacent edges 5 6 are recesses, as at 1a 2, forming a space 3,-adapted to receive a button 8, andbetween the edges 5 6 of plates l 2 is a slot 7, adapted to receive the shank of the button. The plates 1 2 are connected together at their meeting edges so that they can fold or bend on a line substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the device.

In Figs. 1, 3, and 4 I have shown the plates or strips 1 2 as connected together by pivots or hinges 4, and in Fig. 6 said plates are shown connected together by a flexible or spring acting plate 4b, either connection enabling the plates to fold toward each other. The pivot or hinge 4 may be made from the material of the plates 1 2 by properly forming the same into eyes to receive pins 4X, as in Fig. 1, or independent hinges 4C can be provided and attached to the plates 1 2 by rivets or other suitable means, as in, Figs. 3 and 4. By preference the pivots or hinges are so made that the plates l 2 may fold flat against each other in one direction, but cannot fold against each other in the opposite direction, whereby they may be held apart at a suitable angle when bent or folded, as indicated in Fig. 2. At the end of the slot 7 the material of the plates or the hinge forms an abutment 9 to limit the movement of the button-Shanks in slot 7. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the plates 1 2 are movably connected or hinged near opposite ends and this holds the edges of the slot 7 in relative alinement in all positions of the plates when moving toward each other.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the plates 1 2 are pivoted or hinged together at one end, so as to bend or fold toward and from each other, as before described, and in addition said plates are pivotally connected, so that they can swing laterally or outwardly relatively to each other, and for this purpose connecting the part either in the form of a hinge 4 or afleXible bar or strip 4b is pivotally connected to said plates, as by pivots or the like 4, the outer ends 1b 2b of the plates 41 2-being shown curved, so that they can be swung around and reversed in position, whereby the longi- IOO tudinal edges on opposite sides of the plates can be brought into juxtaposition by swinging the plates on their pivots 4, In order to hold the plates rigidly from longitudinal movement relatively to each other when they are in their closed position, as shown in Fig. 4, I provide abutments ld 2d on said plates that are in such position that the hinge 4 will rest against them, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby said shoulders and the hinge, in conjunction with the pivots 4, act to lock the parts from relativelylongitudinal movement. The abutments ll 2d can be formed by bending or pressing the metal of the plates outwardly therefrom to form shoulders. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the recess 3 and slot 7 are in position to receive the head and shank, respectively, of a button, and when the plates l 2 are swung on their pivots 4 the buttons can be quickly released from slot 7.

Means are provided at the free ends of plates l 2 in Figs. 4 and 5 to iirmly hold said plates together when they are in the closed position shown in Fig. 4. I have shown the portion 2e of plate 2 as lapping over the free end lc of plate l, and the portion 2C is shown provided with a slot 2f, that is adapted to receive a stud or the like 17, carried by plate l, whereby the forked or slotted part 2c of plate 2 can slide between the part l@ of plate l and the head of stud 17. This arrangement serves to keep the plates from spontaneously swinging laterally by the gripping action of parts 1 2c and also serves in preventing the plates from moving longitudinally relatively to each other.

To use the button 'stick and cleaning-shield as illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and 3 the plates l 2 are opened out substantially as in Fig. l, the heads of the buttons are passed through the space 3 and their shanks slipped in the slot 7 between the edges 5 6 of plates l 2, and then the plates l 2 are bent or folded toward each other to carry them out of a right line and present them in a position atan angle to each other transversely of the plates, as indicated in Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that the exposed outer face of the buttons and also their edges are elevated above the plates l 2 in such position that the face and edge of the button can be in position to be cleaned and polished without interference by said plates and also that the material 14 to which the buttons are attached is concealed in the space formed between the an gularlydisposed plates l 2. Thus the device acts as a shield to keep the powder or cleaning material that is used on the button from being forcibly brushed from the button upon the article carryi ng the button. The plates l 2 by being movably connect-ed or hinged together, as explained, can be folded one upon the other into a comparatively small compass for convenience in carrying and transportation. Vhen the plates or strips are connected by the fiexible piece 4b, said plates can be folded into an angular position for the purposes above specilied.

The button-stick and cleaning-shield shown in Figs. 4 and 5 can be folded so that one plate will overlie the other by moving the plates sidewise sufficiently far to separate the parts lC 2c and then turning the plates upon the hinge 4c, whereby the device can be folded into a comparatively small compass in manner similar to that explained with reference to Figs. l, 2, and 3.

It will be seen that several buttons can be held at the same time in the slot 7, and their edges can be pushed into contact, so that they will substantially close said slot.

I do not limit my invention to the details of construction shown and described, as they may be varied without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is l. A device ot the character described comprising a bodyhaving aslot to receive buttonshanks, and means to enable the opposite side portions of said body to be folded toward each other, so as to incline at au angle to each other, substantially as described.

2. A device ofthe character described comprising a pair of plates or strips joined togetherso that they may fold toward each other so as to incline at an angle to each other and having a slot between them to receive buttonshanks, substantially as described.

3. A device ofthe character described comprising a pairof plates or strips having hinges near opposite ends so that said plates can foldy toward each other and having a slot between the adjacent edges of said plates and between said hinges to receive button-Shanks, said hinges closing the ends of the slot, substantially as described.

4. A device of the character described comprising a pair of plates or strips hinged together so that they may fold toward each other, said plates having opposed recesses forming a space to receive a buttonhead, and having a slot extending from said space to receive a button-shank, substantially as described.

THOS. O. CURTISS, Jn.

Witnesses:

A. R. ANGUs, F. E. TURNER.

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